Health Officials Warn of 4 Daily Child Fatalities from Measles

Bangladesh's health ministry has issued a stark warning: measles is now responsible for roughly four child deaths each day, a figure that has risen sharply over the past month. DGHS data for the first three weeks of July record an average of 1,005 suspected or laboratory‑confirmed cases daily, with 821 patients admitted to hospitals.

Former disease‑control director Be‑Najir Ahmed labeled the gap of four million unvaccinated children as "shocking" and suggested that unrealistic targets and poor planning contributed to the current emergency. He stressed that without a robust public‑awareness campaign, many families remain unaware of the revised vaccination schedule.

Mahmudur Rahman, heading the National Verification Committee, admitted progress but cautioned that the vaccination campaign, even two months after its launch, is far from meeting its intended coverage. The disparity between official statements and the influx of unvaccinated patients highlights systemic shortcomings in the response.

The ongoing crisis calls for intensified outreach, expanded vaccine supply, and stricter infection‑control protocols to prevent further loss of young lives.